With Thanksgiving fast approaching, it is time to talk about Puritans -- but not the crew who fled England for the New World and established the Massachusetts Bay Colony back in the 17th century. No, let's talk about the modern Puritans: we the American people.

The United States is considered a puritanical society by many Western nations. For example, they can't believe we hassle public servants like Gen. David Petraeus because he had a mistress. In France, if a powerful man doesn't have a mistress, he's considered a wimp. In Italy, they elected Silvio Berlusconi, who allegedly puts together old-fashioned Roman-type orgies and brags about it.

You may remember the outcry in Western Europe over the impeachment of President Clinton. They couldn't believe it over there. Lying about sex? In some countries, that's the national pastime.

So the question is this: Are we Americans basically puritanical? Throwbacks to the days when Cotton Mather was hunting witches in Salem?

The answer, surprisingly, is yes to some degree. While it's true that secular forces are whittling away traditional standards of behavior, we Americans still expect some decorum from our elected officials.

If you're a rock or film star or play professional sports, we expect you to cat around and do self-destructive things. But if we count on you to protect us, like Petraeus did, we want your full attention. Part of the outcry over Clinton's behavior was that it took place in the Oval Office, right beneath portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Turning the most powerful room in the world into a Motel 6 is not acceptable to most Americans.

The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people: Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Warren Harding to name just a few. Grover Cleveland even fathered a child outside of marriage. We all know these things happen. But we don't want them to happen, or at least most of us don't. I can't speak for San Francisco.

That may be because American tradition is based on Judeo-Christian philosophy, and that tradition has served us well. Honesty and loyalty are still esteemed values in most parts of this country. When the defenders of Bill Clinton wailed that it was "just about sex," they were wrong. In cases where powerful people get caught in compromising situations, there is always more to it than a physical act.

I am deeply saddened that Petraeus is no longer protecting this nation. He is a patriot and a brilliant warrior in the cause of freedom. Frankly, I don't care what the general does on his personal time. It is a damn shame he had to resign.

We are all sinners, but here's what comes along with that: You always pay for the sin. Unfortunately, all of us would suffer along with the general, and that is why he had to go. If the folks trust you, don't burn them.

It’s ironic that the godless Soviet Union was largely free of sex scandals. Indeed, the Communist Party was so intolerant of such things that a party member could be expelled for merely getting a divorce. Yet we, one of the most religious advanced democracies, have been plagued with them at least since the time of the Kennedy administration. And speaking of the Soviet Union, God destroyed it—after allowing it to reach unprecedented heights of power—because of its godlessness. Is God doing the same thing to us? Do we deserve it as the Soviets did?

The truth is that many powerful guys have fooled around while working for the people: Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Warren Harding to name just a few. Grover Cleveland even fathered a child outside of marriage. We all know these things happen. But we don't want them to happen, or at least most of us don't. I can't speak for San Francisco.

I remember when a queer was found to be working in L.B.J.s administration, I can't recall in what capacity or even his name but it was a scandal at the time and the queer was fired. I also remember the lame joke from that period, that the White House phone number had been changed to, JOhnson 812.

8
posted on 11/17/2012 7:23:55 AM PST
by Graybeard58
(What G.O.P.e. candidate is in store for us in 2016?)

“And speaking of the Soviet Union, God destroyed itafter allowing it to reach unprecedented heights of powerbecause of its godlessness. Is God doing the same thing to us? Do we deserve it as the Soviets did?”

“I am deeply saddened that Petraeus is no longer protecting this nation. He is a patriot and a brilliant warrior in the cause of freedom. Frankly, I don’t care what the general does on his personal time. It is a damn shame he had to resign.”

I disagree with much of this.

I AM saddened that General Petraeus gave into temptation and committed adultery which REQUIRED him to resign. I sympathize with him, but I know it was right and proper for him to resign. It was a disgrace to the nation when Bill Clinton stayed in office after what he had done, which was worse than Petraeus. Petraeus was correct to resign. Hopefully, the rest of us will learn from this. We have gotten to lax on expecting high standards of conduct (public and private) from person in high elected office or high appointed office.

BTW - The “Puritans” have been given a bad rep that is not a correct understanding of them and their ways. I personnally wish I was more “Puritan” in my views and ACTUALLY lived as I claim those views are.

The most important thing I would like to see stopped in reference to General Petraeus is that all the salacious details be kept off the news. The borders on a scary obsession with voyeuristic ways.

I am certain that if he gets his house in order, I so hope he can, that General Petraeus will again be of service to the country.

16
posted on 11/17/2012 3:31:05 PM PST
by Sola Veritas
(Trying to speak truth - not always with the best grammar or spelling)

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